Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-03
Ten Million Acres More.

Nor IN Dak1,a ta.ilicf.
There are over 10000 acres OF the I'm.
est grazing and farming lands in Dakota
/ lying west and north of Devils Lake
which have been withheld from the opera
tions of the homestead and presumption
laws because OF the questionable claim OF
small band OF Turtle Mountain Chippe
was u the land
In January, -. Surveyor General Tay
Tor OF Dakota, contracted for the SURVEYS
OF Ia o no of these lands in compliance
with existing regulations, but in lie = than
month with characteristic ignorance
and peryerslty. Commissioner sparks Is
sued nm order indefinitely postponing the
surveys, and even went 20 far as 70 decline
To pla' e on file pats or several town hipS
surveyed under contracts appr wed prior
10 ths al on suspending surveys, after
their examination in the field and their
correctne $ was afiirmei. Mr.. II. C. Green
as contractor for these sdrvevs appealed
TO the secretary OF the interior, who has
recently overru'ed the land commission
er's action and ordered that the suspended
contracts be approved, and plats of sur.
veys already made lie fled in the proper
local land offices for di,posal under the
lana laws. The surveyor general has IN
structed the contractors 20 proceed with
tine surveos IA rapidly "a possible
This action causes great re ioicing among
the settlers in the Devils Lake land dis
trict. hundreds of whom settled upon un-
surveyed lands after the reversal in lSS1
10y Secretary Teller OF the order Of Score
rotary Schurz made two years previous,
Withholding the lands from occupancy
Secretary Teller, in his opinion now af-
trmed by Secretary Lamar saws:
Il am OF the opinion that the claim is
not well founded, yet il il should appear
on "A careful examination % the facts that
Such claim does ex 81 10 will be the duty
or the government TO make proper com
en- alton 10 the Indians. | do not think
nearly lO,DluOl acres OF valuable lands
on winch great number OF settlers a @
now located should Toe withheld from the
operations OF the Homestead and the pre-
emption avs because a question has been
raised whether the small band OF Indians
not exceeding three hundred. have
claim on thi, land or not. IL is
not tented bv any one that the govern.
ment has recognized this claim OF the In
dlan' 10y treaty with them and the Indians
make no use of the land except to roam
over It, not cultivatlng | think, any OF
it
The vast tract Of land now open 60 set
I ement 20 ses>es natural advantages un-
surp ed 10y any other part of Dakota
L land, are exceedingly fertile afor ling
tie choicest pasturage gnl p lucing
wheat ~ tn finest qual ", and rivallng
That OF tn fan Gus SaSkatchew an country
! here Is an abundance OF wood along the
ire ans providing cheap Lumber as well
a tuel Tor the cary settlers The extern
siNe coal depO its of the Turtle mountains
and In the Mouse river valley insure
he ap fuel ior the future and invite man
industries
he removal II all barriers TO the settle
ment and develop ment Of the country will
n isten the completion an ! extension OF the
bando, Bottlteau, and other projected
branches OF the Manitoba railroad com
p ny. with is free lands. wealth and
DIVERSITY OF natural reSour eS and present
ana prospective faci.itie, for reaching the
primary markets. We know Of no re non
Offering 50 many inducements to intend
ing emigrsnts.
During the next two or three wears we
hall witnes tide of immigration into
The extreme northe part of OAK Ia and
line farms and homes of prosI erous and
happy p oplc, scarcely equa)led in the
history of Dakota and which was impos-
'lbe In the settlement of other states and
.erritOries.